Defining the patient experience in medical oncology

Higher patient satisfaction is associated with improved health outcomes, treatment adherence, and quality of life. The goal of this study was to explore oncology patients’ perceptions on their hospital experience, focusing on the quality of care in medical oncology.

A qualitative and quantitative study design was implemented with a sample of 58 patients at Smilow Yale New Haven Hospital. Data were collected from patient interviews and observation of rounds.

Two themes emerged: hospital experience and physician communication skills. Within hospital experience, subthemes identified include: attended to (49%), facility/staff (35%), nurses (33%), long wait time (29%), doctors (20%), coordination of care (18%), unnecessary medical procedures (10%), medications (6%), night awakenings (4%), pain (4%), not getting better (4%), and decreased mobility (2%). Within physician communication skills, subthemes identified include: involving the patient and/or family in the care process (41%), method of information sharing (18%), lack of coordination of care (15%), use of medical jargon (10%), attending to patient’s needs (8%), and lack of patient’s perspective (8%). Patients reported that effective engagement of patients in the care process and attending to patient-specific needs were desired qualities in their hospital experience as well as patient-centered communication with their physician. The quantitative data supported qualitative results with 72% of patients giving the highest score in overall satisfaction with their patient experience.

Physician attentiveness or lack thereof is a defining aspect of the quality of patient experience and physician communication. The results are intended to inform clinical and operational interventions that care providers might incorporate into practice.